The news I really hoped I would never get came today...my son Alex. aged 19, got a call from his unit that he's on the list to go to Iraq. Please pray this is a mix up as he took on a long agreement with the PA Army National Guard so that he could study for 2 years, then be available for deployment. He hasn't even finished his first year. He looks like a dear caught in the headlights of a very big car, and I'm afraid I look like a very moist dish rag right now. I don't want to go bawling my eyes out in front of him, but I really need to bawl my eyes out. There's no lack to moisture in this girls face today.
Not that any soldier deserves to be there any more than mine, but please, if you're a praying person, pray that this is a mistake and he gets another year and the clearer head of a new government leader before he has to go over there.
One very upset Mama, Tracy
Tracy
What you are going through must be terrible, I will pray for him and for you.
There is a good book my SIL gave me when I was going through some stuff it is: Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. It helps us to put things in God's hands, maybe it would help you.
I wish the war would end so all our boys would come home.
Try to stay strong and know you can always come here to vent and ask for prayers.
Cricket
Tracy, my son is a newly U.S. Marine and is due to go to Iraq too. I too have had to give him to the Lord.
THe Joyce Meyer's book is a good one.
I do pray for our troops and I will pray for your son and comfort for you.
Faithful
Thanks Cricket,
I'll go look for the book as it just became definite, he's going. Every promise they made him - broken. Thanks for the good wishes and the book suggestion. I'll need all I can get.
Faithful, If you can help me learn how to give my son to the Lord, I'd be very greatful. You can write to me off list at ktfabian2@yahoo.com
Tracy
Hi Tracy
I feel for you. It seems all wrong that you can sign up and be lied to. I hope the lies can be challenged and that he doesn't have to go. If he does have to go I hope he's one of the many who gets home safely.
Take care - Scottie
Hi Tracy
My heart goes out to you. I'm in the UK and have three young adult sons. I thank God that, beause of a history of epilepsy, two cannot be called up and the third one had an auto-immune condition, so he can stay at home too.
I will pray for you boys.
Kathyx
Tracy I prayed for both of you. LOOK in God's Holy Word.
susanep
Hi Tracy...I am so sorry for what you are going through. I can feel the pain in your words!
My only nephew/godson just graduated from the Marines Basic Training on December 7th 2007. I went to San Diego to see him officially become a Marine. He then went for additional field training in San Diego and then on to his classroom training in North Carolina.
He is "positive" he wont be sent right into the middle of things now because thats what he was told...he's supposed to work his job for a while and get all of his classroom training in first.....well so far thats whats happened....but I hold my breath in fear waiting for the day when I hear that he got his orders to deploy. So many others who graduated around his time are going and I know its only a matter of time.
But the way I look at it is that it was his decision to serve his country and if he has to go I will pray for his safe return, be proud of him, and turn him over to my higher power.
I continue to pray for all of our men and women overseas and wish for all of their safe returns and I will do the same for your son. Hugs to you.......
Dear Tracy:
It is very difficult as a mother to hear that your child will be sent into battle, I know. My son was one of the first into Iraq in March 2003, and was in three battles in short order - Samawah, Fallujah, and Baghdad. He came back with injuries and PTSD, but alive. Some of his friends were not so fortunate, and we never forget that. Our country is blessed with very special sons and daughters.
I will include your son in my prayers for everyone involved in this conflict, and in every conflict before and since.
Genko
I love Joyce Meyer's. I have her amplified Bible and it's great!
Quote from: faithful on April 23, 2008, 11:50:21 AM
Tracy, my son is a newly U.S. Marine and is due to go to Iraq too. I too have had to give him to the Lord.
THe Joyce Meyer's book is a good one.
I do pray for our troops and I will pray for your son and comfort for you.
Faithful
Tracy,
You can add my prayers to the rest here. Here's a long distance hug from one mom to another! Do you have a good support system around you? I sincerely hope that your son comes home safely SOON. Will he be able to email you once he's deployed?
Keep us posted as to how he - and you - are faring with all this.
This family will hold you in their prayers. I don't really know what to say except that I'll pray for him.
Billye
Thank you to all, your prayers mean so much to me.
I've ordered the book recommended and one other by the same author. I've seen her on TV once or twice before and thought both times that she seemed like a straight forward talker.
I have to say, as each day gets closer to my son's first official training for this mission next week - I can see the change. He is becoming once again the mature young soldier we met for the first time when we traveled to his Basic training Graduation just about a year ago. He's already worked out the fact that he will miss finals for this semester - he will receive a final grade for each class even tho he'll be down at Fort Indiantown Gap in PA next Tuesday. There's a new maturity that's focused on helping his Dad and I get through this, rather than being concerned about himself. He assures me he'll be with his brothers and well taken care of. I'm falling apart and he's coming together as probably the strongest young man I've ever seen him be.
I guess we'll both get through. I appreciate knowing I have your support here, I'm definitely going to need is - I'll do my best not to let the stress affect my Sjs, but I'm not sure how successful I'll be.
Thanks to all, Tracy
Tracy~~Prayers to both you and your son~~~And may all of the sons and daughters stay safe and come home soon. Love Shari
Tracy,
I'll be keeping you, your family, and your son in my thoughts. *hugs*
I graduated high school in 2001 and several of my friends signed up for one of the armed forces. I don't think it occurred to them or any of us at the time that they'd be facing armed combat so soon.
Take care!
-Lauren
Tracy,
I'm very sorry to near about about your son. We will keep him in our prayers and pray that the Lord has some higher purpose we know nothing about. I know your heart is breaking and I will pray for God to give you strength.
Love and prayers, Sandy
Tracy - I will keep your son in my prayers. May angels watch over him and keep him safe. I will also pray for strength for you and your family. Your son will stay strong through the strength, love and support of his family. May God Bless you and yours.
Tracy, My sister left our area of NW AR this afternoon, she is in my nephew's truck headed for Ft Brag in NC to join all the families of the 82nd air born troop as they are returning home from Afghanistan duty of 18ms. This will be a welcoming home celebration. Every single one of them is returning home safe. As I give PRAISE to this coming home I will Place your son in my prayers for his return home to you. May you feel tightly wrapped in the arms of our almighty God. And I pray strength, courage and a wall of protection for your son and all who serve with him that they also return safely home in due time.
kimbo
Tracy,
I'm sure that I'm not the only member here who cried while reading your posts. As a mother of sons, I can only imagine your fear and grief. I will pray for him and for your family as you are separated.
Maybe his leaving a year early will be worthwhile when he finishes his tour of duty a year earlier, too. In the meantime, I know it will be a long wait for you.
Hugs and Prayers,
Cheryl
I just want to say thank you again. Your prayers mean so much to me. I'm reading the Joyce Meyer book and my husband and I went to a new church this weekend. We decided we needed a church that will help us with the life we're living now, today, rather than one focused on the past.
My son seems to be handling this the best. Today we were talking and I said something like, I always wondered (in the past) if you were deployed, would I be able to handle it? And he replied - not to be a (well, I don't want to use his word, let's just say a wise *ss), but you're going to find out now. He wasn't mean about it, just pointing out that we're dealing with it and we'll continue to deal with it as best we can.
I've adopted a soldier through the Soldier's Angels program. It's an organization that arranges for an "angel" to write and send care packages to a service member who isn't receiving any mail. These service people are usually nominated by someone in their unit. I know my family will keep my son well equipped with goodies and treats from home, so I wanted to do that for someone who for whatever reason isn't. I can't really explain how, but it's helping me feel better.
Thanks again, your kindness is amazing!
Tracy
Can you please give info on the Soldier's Angel program. I have not heard of this. Is it nation wide. I sure would love to look into this program. Thanks for your help.
Salsen-
I found the Soldier's Angels program by accident. I was trying to come up with a list of donation ideas for goodie boxes the Family Readiness Group of my son's National Guard Unit are going to send to all of our deployed soldiers. my therapist has arranged for donation boxes to be placed at the rehab hospital where he works, and suggested I put a list of items that we're looking for.
When I did my search for donations, I don't even remember now what my search criteria were, I came across soldiersangels.org (http://soldiersangels.org). As I read about this organization I was amazed. One aspect of the organization is getting the names of soldiers who are not receiving mail for whatever reason, and match them up with "Angel's" who commit to writing two letters a week and sending at least one care package a month to their soldier.
They do SO much more, but adopting a soldier just really struck a chord with me, so I did it. I've already written my first letter and have my first care package ready to mail. I can't really explain why it's helping me, but it is.
I hope this information helps you, Tracy
Traceu
I have got your son in my prayers, i pray for his safety. I pray for you and your family at this tense time. I have a nephew who has been sent to irag a couple of times already, he is only 21. I pray for all our soldiers, i pray that war will end soon.
God bless
loulou
Loulou-
Thank you for your prayers. I'll be keeping your nephew in my prayers, as well. Isn't it amazing how young these young men and women who are fighting this was are? My son is 19, he'll be 20 by the time he goes.
We were just talking last night, and I told my son that, the way the Army has messed up orders so much within his Unit (my older son's roommate is in the same Unit and actually deployed 2 months later than originally planned) maybe they won't be sent yet when a new president takes office, and if we're lucky, maybe the new president will decide to send no more soldiers there. It's a nice idea, but not really fair to the soldiers already there waiting to come home. I can dream, though, right?
My very best to you and your nephew, Tracy
Tracy thanks for the information and the website. I will be looking into the program. God Bless!
Yes you can dream~~~And helping someone or showing kindness allways makes us feel better. In your case you know that you would hope that there will be kindnesses extended to your son also...that there are mothers out there taking care wherever needed. Love Shari